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U.S. Department of Justice
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U.S. Department of Justice

United States government
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Also known as: DOJ
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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•History
After missing deadline, DOJ says it may need a 'few more weeks' to finish releasing Epstein files • Dec. 24, 2025, 7:45 PM ET (AP)
DOJ says it may need a 'few more weeks' to finish release of Epstein files despite Dec. 19 deadline • Dec. 24, 2025, 2:18 PM ET (AP)
Trump approves deployment of 350 National Guard members to New Orleans • Dec. 23, 2025, 6:51 PM ET (AP)
Voluminous new Epstein document release includes multiple Trump mentions, but little revelatory news • Dec. 23, 2025, 6:05 PM ET (AP)

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), executive division of the U.S. federal government responsible for law enforcement. Headed by the U.S. attorney general, it investigates and prosecutes cases under federal antitrust, civil-rights, criminal, tax, and environmental laws. It controls the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Office of Justice Programs, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. National Central Bureau of Interpol, among many other agencies.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Maren Goldberg.